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54-62 Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

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CHAPTER 54-62FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES54-62-01. Office of faith-based and community initiatives established. The office offaith-based and community initiatives is established within the department of commerce. The<br>office of faith-based and community initiatives has lead responsibility to establish policies,<br>priorities, and objectives for the state's comprehensive effort to enlist, equip, enable, empower,<br>and expand the work of faith-based and community organizations to the extent permitted by law.<br>The commissioner of the department of commerce shall designate a member of the department<br>of commerce staff to serve as director of the office of faith-based and community initiatives. The<br>department of commerce shall provide other staff services to assist the director.54-62-02. Functions. The principal functions of the office of faith-based and communityinitiatives are to:1.Develop, lead, and coordinate the state's policy agenda affecting faith-based and<br>community programs and initiatives; expand the role of those efforts in communities;<br>and increase their capacity through executive action, legislation, federal and private<br>funding, and regulatory relief;2.Coordinate public education activities designed to mobilize public support for<br>faith-based and community initiatives through volunteerism, special projects,<br>demonstration pilots, and public and private partnerships;3.Encourage private charitable giving to support faith-based and community initiatives;4.Bring concerns, ideas, and policy options to the governor and legislative assembly<br>for assisting, strengthening, and replicating successful faith-based and community<br>programs;5.Provide policy and legal education to state, local, and community policymakers and<br>public officials seeking ways to empower faith-based and community organizations<br>and to improve the opportunities, capacity, and expertise of those groups;6.Develop and implement strategic initiatives to strengthen the institutions of civil<br>society and the state's families and communities;7.Encourage innovative grassroots, nonprofit organizations, and civic initiatives; and8.Ensure that the efforts of faith-based and community organizations meet high<br>standards of excellence and accountability.54-62-03.Advisory commission.The advisory commission on faith-based andcommunity initiatives is composed of seven members to include the following: the executive<br>director of the department of human services or the director's designee; the director of the<br>department of corrections and rehabilitation or the director's designee; two members of the<br>legislative assembly, one of whom must be selected by the members of the legislative<br>management representing the majority faction and one of whom must be selected by the<br>members of the legislative management representing the minority faction; and three public<br>members appointed by the governor, one of whom must represent a minority population. The<br>term of office for the public members is three years. Of the first public members appointed, one<br>must be appointed for a term of one year, one must be appointed for a term of two years, and<br>one must be appointed for a term of three years. No public member may be appointed to more<br>than two consecutive terms.A chairman of the commission must be chosen annually from themembership of the commission by a majority of its members at the first meeting of the advisory<br>commission each year.The advisory commission shall advise the director of the office offaith-based and community initiatives in the establishment of policy regarding matters affecting<br>the faith-based and community organizations, including making recommendations concerningPage No. 1the future of existing state programs and initiatives. The advisory commission on faith-based and<br>community initiatives shall report periodically to the governor and provide the governor with<br>information and recommendations for the governor's consideration.The members of theadvisory commission are entitled to mileage and expenses as provided by law for state officers<br>and employees.Page No. 2Document Outlinechapter 54-62 faith-based and community initiatives